* The Lawrence Taylor 1990 New York Giants, who slowed down the first flash of the Jim Kelly/Thurman Thomas Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI.

* The Ronnie Lott 1984 49ers, who enveloped Dan Marino’s Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX; and remember, Miami had put up the third-highest regular-season point total at that time.

* The Mike Haynes/Lester Hayes 1983 Raiders, who won Super Bowl XVIII by walloping a Washington team that scored a then-NFL record 541 points in the regular season.

That’s the history, all pointing to Seattle’s defense controlling this game, presuming the Seahawks’ offense doesn’t run aground itself.

This is not to disrespect Manning, who, of course, already has won one Super Bowl with the Colts and has been nearly perfect in his second season with Denver.

Maybe Manning will blow through the Seattle defense just like he did most of Denver’s previous opponents this season.

But that’s not at all how I see this game developing, not after I’ve watched Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Brandon Mebane and the rest of the Seattle defense hound the 49ers three times this season and hold all regular-season opponents to an NFL-low 231 points.

We’ve already seen Denver’s scoring output narrow down in the playoffs, from the absurd 37.9-point regular-season average to an average of 25 in the two playoff victories.

I expect that number to dip again on Sunday, maybe down to the low-20s, thanks to a bunch of Seahawks sacks, pressures and maybe two or three turnovers.

Generally, I think it’s easier to keep a powerful defense rolling into February than it is to guarantee that a super-charged offense stays on track that long.

Hmm, that might be the best explanation of all for Manning’s strangely mediocre (11-11) record in the postseason.

But anyway, I think it’ll only take 23 or 24 points from Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch and the Seattle offense to steal this game; if the Seattle defense keeps giving them great field position, that shouldn’t be impossible.

Really, there was one stat that convinced me: Seattle only gave up 170 passing yards per game in the regular season, by far the No. 1 in the league; the next-closest was New Orleans at 194.1.

And against the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, we saw that Seattle can stuff the run game, too.

So if Seattle can run the ball on offense and knock Manning around on defense, I just don’t see the Broncos getting good field position and moving the ball consistently; and if they can’t do that, they won’t win.

The Broncos haven’t faced a defense anything like the Seahawks all season—the closest was when Denver crushed the New York Giants in Week 2 at MetLife.

Hint: While the Giants put up decent defensive stats this season, that defense bears no resemblance to Seattle’s “Legion of Boom”.

Seattle’s defense didn’t exactly face a cavalcade of offensive wizardry, but it handled New Orleans—a top 10 squad—easily in two meetings.

Both games were in Seattle, a huge advantage, but the Saints and Drew Brees had zero answers for the Seahawks.

If Denver was facing a lesser defense, I’d give Manning every chance to win his second Super Bowl; but Seattle is a great defense, one of the best we’ve seen in years.

Yes, this match-up fits right into the historic model, and it fits the way I see this game, to a tee.
–Prediction: Seattle 24, Denver 21.

Seattle shut Dow the Saints IN Seattle. They are a totally different team on the road. Seattle beat SF because Greg Roman got outcoached and the game was IN Seattle. Best qb Seattle faced was Andrew Luck. He shredded them. Peyton will exploit Walter Thurmond on Sunday and Denver wins. Easily.

ds207

I hate Richard Sherman and his big mouth, but he does play on a great defense that I think will shut down a great offense. I will root for Manning, but he will have to unload the ball in a hurry before the pass rush gets there, and he will have to hope that the officials help the Bronco receivers by calling holding on the Hawks db’s. Games played at this level are usually called penalty free which favors Seattle.

Niner Fans Are The Worst

Seattle beat SF because they were the better team. Period. The different team on the road than home adage is lame too.. Seattle gave up 13 PPG at home and 14 PPG on the road. Seattle went 7-1 at home and 6-2 on the road. Not to mention, this isn’t really a road game as neither fan base is going to pack the stadium (in fact many in the media are saying NYC is packed with Seattle fans) .. oh and Andrew Luck shredded the Denver defense too. The Colts were white hot at the time.. as a 49er fan you should be able to recollect that as well.

soopurelative

The Seahawks play a very physical type of game, no doubt. But the Bronco’s also get the benefit of the doubt on numerous illegal pick plays. I don’t expect the officials to call the Bronco’s on these picks, any more than I expect them to call the Hawks on their hard play. Manning makes a living in the middle. Bam Bam may have something to say about that. He makes more receivers LBTC than any other safety. And he has more tattoos than any other DB known to the NFL. (By tattoo, I mean his number imprinted on receivers chests)…

soopurelative

Nice, yet failed analysis. Seattle was 6-2 on the road this year. They even had success on the “dreaded” east coast. Andrew Luck is a good young quarterback and had an excellent game against the Seahawks. But Seattle lost that game on special teams and on 3rd down conversions. Even with Luck’s success, the Hawks should have won that game, were it not for some late failed special teams blunders and their failure, especially in the 4th qtr, to keep the ball on offense. Andrew Luck had a great game. No doubt, I give him a lot of credit for their success. But all things equal, the Hawks win that game. All things equal, the Seahawks also win the Super Bowl. But of course, they play on grass, rubber and turf. So anything is possible…

Mike Lyons

For me, Denver has played in a soft conference with an easy schedule. Seattle had to defeat the best teams in the NFL to get to this point. Seattle is the better team and I believe they will stuff the Broncos.

ssclesq

manning is too focused on his legacy. Has to win this super bowl to be considered great , catch up to his brother etc… russuel wilson has that joe montana coolness about him, he is methodical , throws to the open receivers.( unlike Kap) is totally unfazed as to how he is doing. Hard to believe seattle lets manning go crazy on them. Seahawks win.

Bigmouth

Andrew Luck is not the best QB SEA faced lol.

Bigmouth

Hey! I resemble that “big mouth” comment lol!

Bigmouth

I’ll be rooting for DEN, but I expect SEA to win. They’ve played slightly better football overall and more importantly are much healthier.

The best thing DEN has going for it is that Manning’s game matches up perfectly with SEA’s defense. Their DBs are great at disrupting the kind of long pass routes the Niners love. The way to attack SEA is with quick slants and crossing routes that are Manning’s bread and butter.